Who was the most unlikley winner of a Formula 1 race?

Question

In your opinion.....

Answer 1

One of:

Brambilla (March) in the 1975 Austrian GP (torrential rain, circuit flooded...somehow he didn't have an accident)

Mass (McLaren) in the 1975 Spanish GP (race stopped early after Stommelen's accident)

Nannini (Benetton) in the 1989 Japanese GP (after all the top runners either retired or were disqualified)

Beltoise (BRM) in the 1972 Monaco GP (torrential rain again, made the best start and led out of Casino on the first lap...no-one saw him again for the whole afternoon, except when they were being lapped)

or Baghetti (Ferrari) in the 1961 French GP (profiting from having the dominant car, plus the retirements of his three faster teammates, to win on his debut).

These were all the only ever GP victory for the driver concerned...and although the McLaren and Ferrari in question were competitive cars, the drivers were not really expected to actually win races.

If I have to pick one, then it's Brambilla. "Never a less likely GP winner" (or words to that effect) was how Nigel Roebuck described it.

Answer 2

On the face of it... it seems to be that Olivier Panis would be a prime candidate for this... given the circumstances in which he won at Monaco... but then if we consider his early-97 form it seems that his win in 96 (lucky it was) had some substance to it...

If we compare another unlikely winner in Giancarlo Fisichella in the Jordan in 2003... both Panis and Fisi's points tallies for each year were only a point different.. Panis' 13 to Fisi's 12... so their wins in each year were anomalies regards to the season....

I suppose if history had been allowed to run its course at Monaco in 1984... we could've seen 3 possible unlikely (at the time) winners... Mansell, Senna and Bellof... Mansell led early on but threw it away... and Senna in his Toleman and Bellof in his Tyrrell were bearing down on Prost... it would've been a HUGE upset if either took the win... of course we now know that Senna was one of the greats... and Bellof never got the chance to show us... but at the time this would've been as big, if not bigger a shock that either of the other two cases... of course this is all conjecture lol

Rain has been a factor in all these... so you could also bring up Johnny Herbert's last win in the Stewart at the 'Ring in 99.... Damon Hill at Spa 98 OR if he had won in Hungary in 97...

Another name... Vittorio Brambilla????

Answer 3

In recent times I would have to say Giancarlo Fisichella driving a Jordan - Ford in Brazil 2003. He started from 8th spot on the grid and won. The Jordan - Ford team scored only 13 points for the entire season including the 10 for this win.

Jenson Button winning in 2006 was my second choice, but they scored 86 points that year. He won from 14th in 2006 at Hungary.

Answer 4

I'm gonna say Schumacher in  Austria 2002. I can't believe that Ferrari thought it was a good idea to tell Barrichello to let Michael past on the last lap ! Did they really think it would go down well ??

Answer 5

Jenson button, from where he satrt in qualifing i was shocked to here he won at hungary.

i think he started at 16th am not 100% sure, maybe a littel higher but he won it. i was very shocked!

Answer 6

Oliver Panis in Monaco in a rainy race, Fischy in the Jordan in Brazil, and Jarno Trulli in the Toyota in Monaco.